I've Been a Busy Little Beader

Wow, its been a bit longer break than I intended, not aided by being unable to upload pictures here recently, but onwards and upwards! I have really enjoyed busily creating new pieces of jewellery this week and having the requisite photo shoots prior to listing them in my online stores. Here's just a very small taste of what I've been up to....

the top image is Mulberry Butterfly Necklace, vintage Papua and New Guinea postage stamp, glazed and set under domed magnifying glass, in a copper setting. This just went into my etsy store yesterday.




The madeit store has been shown some love and attention too, with Persuasion Earrings above, and Sweet Disposition Earrings below both being placed up for sale.

I also just put these Serene Teal Rose Earrings in my madeit store, www.madeit.com.au/Starzyia

The etsy store link is, as always, www.starzyia.etsy.com

BUT, don't go away yet! If you would like to join my Birthday Club, you can leave a comment here on the blog, simply stating the month of your birthday. What do you get? Well a 15% discount not just on the day of your birthday, but during the entire month of your birthday! That way you don't miss out if you're too busy to shop on your special day. Simply code 'Birthday Club' at checkout and your discount will be applied before you pay!

Bright Colours, the Mystery is Solved

When I returned from Adelaide, the first thing I did (business wise) after re-opening my two stores was start ordering some new supplies. I found myself attracted to some very bold and bright colours, which was unusual for me, and so I went on my facebook business page and promised my fans 'more colour'. But I wasn't sure why I was working with bright yellow for the first time in my life.

The supplies started to trickle in and this week in particular I began to create and list my 'more colour' designs.

Then last night, I suddenly realized what was behind it all.... I was choosing colours that my late Aunty can see and enjoy, with her vision impairment the pale colours all blend in and she can't distinguish one from another. So I guess I am making things that might bring her seal of approval.

Although I did list this last pair of earrings today, more my original style, in my madeit store. They are called Midnight Sun, because the flower design is helianthus, the wild sunflower native to America.

So far the bright colour trend seems to be something my fans are welcoming, so thank you for supporting me. I will keep working the 'more colour' angle, as well as producing some of the classic, elegant and vintage inspired pieces from before.

www.madeit.com.au/Starzyia

Enchanting Etsy Finds

Every day should be enchanting, wonderful, truly worth living, no matter what you have going on in your life, find the magic and you will endure with joy. Here are some of my favourite enchanting handmade items...

The top image shows the necklace Magic of Home by Australian etsy seller jewelflyt, I love the feeling of nostalgia for home depicted inside this witches' hat pendant.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51554917/magic-of-home-fine-silver-pendant

I find these earrings by beautyspot bring me great serenity, but also awe for the simple beauty, and remind me of the wonderful symbolic meaning of deciduous trees which denote harmony in nature.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62842891/tree-crown-earrings-free-worldwide

The robin's nest terrarium necklace by WoodlandBelle is made to order, and is part of the seller's star line up of beautiful terrarium necklaces.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60912235/tiny-woodland-terrarium-robins-nest

Blackberry Patch necklace by MySelvedgedLife, one of my very favourite etsy sellers, and so hard to pick just the one creation from this shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73493666/blackberry-patch

And from fellow Australian seller sageandmage I had to include the ritual potion, but you should check out her sacred jewelry and other offerings today (if you have not already, and hey if you have, why not do it again!)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/41026570/protection-ritual-oil-all-natural

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More of my favourites can be viewed on my profile page at etsy!

How Do You Like Your Vintage Postage?

There are so many options when I am creating vintage postage stamp jewelry.... something for every taste.

Do you like your vintage 'dirty'? The necklace above is a postmarked 1973 stamp from Singapore and is stained, giving you the feeling the letter it carried went through some trials to reach its recipient.

The ladybird stamp here, is from the UK, and is heavily postmarked, so you clearly remember its origin as a postage stamp.

But I also have a large range of absolutely immaculate postage stamps for use in jewelry, these are free of markings so that you can concentrate on the beautiful image, this necklace features one of my grandmother's Polish postage stamps.

I am working on some images suitable for men's jewelry or cards for men, and some sets of stamps to sell in my store called Trains, Planes, and Automobiles... as well as some very historic sailing ships.

So how do you like it?

Most Beautiful Monday, sorry I'm late!

I like to make these posts on Monday, but I've been busy taking photos for my very dear friend, Diane, who lives in America, it is our dream she will one day come to Australia and join me on my walk around the river and lake at the end of my street. I have even created an album dedicated to her on facebook, called Diane's Daily Dose of Australia. Not sure whether these will inspire her or torture her, maybe a little bit of both.

I love this stark white path through the dark, bare trees, it looks even more like a fairy tale setting when its a grey or misty day, the section ahead curves and is flanked by black, leafless trees so I'm hoping to get some enchanting pics when I am not looking into the sun.

If you want to come to Australia, why not make the trip, the more the merrier... Oprah did it, why can't you?

Newest Starzyia Video

Just made this last night... new stock, and old favourites with new images. I hope you like it!

What's New at Starry Girl by Starzyia

I've been busy making more altered art necklaces, the one featured above, Butterfly Symphony, will be added to my etsy store very soon. The Purple Delight necklace below, is currently in my etsy store and features a vintage Hungarian (Magyar Posta) stamp from my grandmother's collection.
www.starzyia.etsy.com

Soon to come to my etsy store... Tea Leaf Readings, yes! Email or convo me the image of your tea leaves and I will give you a divination of their symbolic meaning. The readings are great fun, and will cost $5

I am also considering offering tarot card readings through the store, or privately via paypal, I am very experienced, and my readings focus on inspiring and encouraging you on your journey, a guide to coping with what you are experiencing in life.

The earrings below are a recent addition to my madeit store www.madeit.com.au/Starzyia and were inspired by vintage Madonna, the Like A Prayer album where she wheres all the different coloured gemstone fashion jewelry at once.

I have also begun a new tweet segment, every morning via twitter, I choose a symbol for the day and a link to an item featuring it by another etsy seller. So far the daily symbols have been: pyramid, heart, apple, owl. If you'd like to see my daily symbol please follow me on twitter

www.twitter.com/sssStarzyia or use the button on the side of my blog.

Twice a week on my facebook fan page I will feature my own handmade Pick of the Day with a 24 hour discount code to save 15%, these picks will be posted on Tuesdays and Fridays in the afternoon. If you'd like to see my featured items, please join me on my business page using the link on the side of this blog.

So what's new in your world? I'd love to know

What is Your Weather Personality?

One day, late last year, I was sitting at my beading table, and looked out the window, I noticed a sunshower had just begun to fall ever so lightly. I was very happy, because I love rain, especially sunshowers which make me a bit giddy and girlish to be honest. Instead of running out into it, as I often do, I reached for my bead tins... I knew I had some gorgeous new fire polished jonquil beads, and that I also had the very beads to team with them to create a pair of earrings that I would call Sunshowers. As I created the cascade of golden beads, I worked carefully to make sure the earrings would truly portray the joy and natural wonder of a sunshower. Then I began to think about what a sun shower symbolically represents... next thing, I knew I had to create an entire range of weather inspired jewelry with a personality profile for each weather type. My new range of jewelry was born that very afternoon and has been launched in my etsy store today!

You can come and browse the new creations, explore your weather personality, and maybe pick up a piece of jewelry to make a statement about yourself. Are you a sunshower? a rainbow? winter rain? summer sunshine? Perhaps you are more like a perfect spring day, a summer storm, fog, or even snow? These can also make fun gifts for people you know who match the descriptions to a tee, and each piece of jewelry comes with the weather personality profile printed out.

Sun Shower earrings

Rainbow Earrings

Winter Rain

All the weather personality profiles are in my new store section, which you can browse and have some fun with http://www.etsy.com/shop/Starzyia?section_id=7756024

I'd love to know what your weather personality is when you're done, you can comment here or on my facebook fanpage to tell me, and why not have a guess at my weather personality, just for kicks!

My Newest Creations...

Talkin' Turquoise earrings.
This is the first time I've created with my turquoise beads, these combine both colour therapy and crystal healing. I love that this stone is also known as the 'friendship' stone. This radiates platonic and unconditional love, is an ancient symbol of prosperity, and was revered for its protective qualities. In colour therapy this colour is very balancing for the self esteem, helps express matters of the heart, and also helps envelope you in that unconditional love.
In my etsy store now.

Violets Are Blue, Necklace.

I made one of these for myself two or three years ago and people have asked for similar, so here it is, first in best dressed! This has a medley of blue, violet, purple, and silver grey beads.
In my etsy store now.

Unamed as yet, I'm thinking possibly California Zen for the necklace title.

Gorgeous beaded metal filigree button and dazzling leaf on a plated silver snake chain.

Will be available soon.

Miss Delicate Elegant earrings.

I love the dark note to these swarovski baroque drops and the vintage feel of the copper flower pieces.

In my madeit store now www.madeit.com.au/Starzyia

Sayonara Gypsy earrings.

Gorgeous mini chandelier earrings with tiny little green beads that glow lovely in the light, and a cloisonne bead in the middle.

Will be available in my etsy store, very soon.

And how are your creative efforts going? making anything interesting? made anything using my vintage postage stamps or yarn? I'd love to share your interesting work, so tell me about it!

AusDisasterRelief Shop, Etsians Donate Quality Handmade items to fund Charity

In response to the terrible flooding in Australia, a team of volunteers have launched the AusDisasterRelief shop on etsy. This is a place where the community of etsy sellers are donating quality handmade creations (and the costs to ship them to their buyers) so that funds go to the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

Our nation is witnessing homes and families being swept away in an unbelievable, and epic disaster, and we need to reach out and help all who are hurting as a result.

On a postive note, this is a remarkable time to buy handmade, and it is a joyous feeling visiting the store and seeing the diversity of items donated for sale, watching as the number of sales steadily rises, and to feel that through our talents and dedications we are united against adversity.

How you can help the store...

You might be an etsy member (or perhaps madeit, artfire, folksy) with quality handmade items to donate, which you can do by contacting the store.

You might shop and buy from the store, in which case you will be making a charitable donation and receive handmade goods with no shipping fees.

And at no cost to yourself, you could share the link to the store on your blog, facebook, twitter, kaboodle, etc, and you can also promote individual items within the store in the same way using the built in share feature on site.

The earrings at the top of the blog post are my first donated item to the store, and are in store now http://www.etsy.com/listing/65892493/happy-trails-follow-a-butterfly-earrings

The direct shop link is http://www.etsy.com/shop/AusDisasterRelief

Building a Twig Wall....

Another wonderful day in my creative life.... complete with dreams, obstacles, perseverence and ultimately - solutions.

My 'Rule Titania' earrings from my madeit shop were to be transfered into my etsy shop, where I feel they are more accessible to the public. I thought I should do a new photo shoot for them and instantly visualised them sitting inside a birds nest, this is the 'dream' part of my day.

The obstacles were that I did not have a birds nest, and when I very enthusiastically attempted to make one... I discovered that birds are ultimately better at building birds nests than humans even though we have opposable thumbs!

My 'solution' was to build a twig wall, on a bed of leaves and use that for my photo shoot.

These earrings are now available in my etsy store www.starzyia.etsy.com

Since I had twig city set up on my dining room table, I took photographs of some of my new colour therapy earrings, which are to be added to the store during this week.

While building the twig wall, I was thinking about the three little pigs, (the house made of twigs), especially when I had to knock it down and re-erect it. I am happy to say I did manage to completely make the wall of twigs without use of any wire, while attempting to make a nest I used kitchen twist ties to make rings of stick and vine but they wouldn't hold and my twigs kept snapping.

So as you can see I had fun 'playing' (working) today!

Open for Business in 2011!

I'm open for business, 2011, yay! I have enjoyed my break, the hardest part was starting vacation, the first two days I was itching to go online and work, but after that I did get used to it so much I postponed my return a whole day. Now I am just as keen to do all that my creating and promoting requires and to plan my year.

What's New for Starry Girl by Starzyia in 2011?

Well I have just scrapped my existing store sections (earrings, jewelry, etc) in favour of sections like 'colour therapy', 'crystal healing', 'symbolic and traditional' etc this is a trial phase, so if you are familiar with my old sections and visit the store now, I'd love to know if you think this makes finding stock easier or more difficult.

The colour therapy section aims to provide a burst of colour energy and look gorgeous for you while being very thrifty.

The crystal healing section is where you will find natural gemstone creations that combine the healing properties with colour therapy too... super combinations for any purpose.

Don't forget that many of my creations will be drawn from multiple disciplines so it is worth looking in multiple sections.

I have just listed the three crystal healing necklaces pictured in this post, and will add through the year. Currently I have chrysocola, jade, new jade/serpentine, citrine quartz, rose quartz, apatite, and autumn jasper healing creations in my etsy store www.starzyia.etsy.com

My facebook birthday club is now up and running, members receive a 15% store discount for my etsy and madeit stores during the month of their birthday. If you haven't signed up but would like to, visit my facebook fan page (use the link on the right of page), click like (if you are not already a liker) and click on discussions.... under the birthday club discussion, post the month of your birthday, and you will be a full member!

I'm hoping all my friends and supporters have a great 2011, best of luck with all your adventures, creations, and goals, xxoxoxx Starry

Announcing: the Starzyia Birthday Club

I'm accepting new members now for the Starry Girl by Starzyia Facebook Birthday Club. Members receive a 15% discount in both my etsy and madeit shops during the month of their birthday.

To join, all you need to do is become a facebook fan of my business, and post a comment under the Birthday Club discussion telling me the month of your birthday. The code for claiming your discount is mentioned in the discussion, you can come back and refresh your memory any time.

You don't need to tell me your age, just your birth month will do!

Find my facebook page via the box on the right hand side of this blog, click the like button if you aren't already a fan, and then open the discussion tab, and post your comment telling me your birthday month.... as easy as that!

Hopefully I will be wishing many of you a happy birthday in 2011, when the club discounts begin in January!

I've Been Featured as Dusty Diva of the Week!

I'm so very lucky to be sharing my creative journey with some amazing, wonderful people, one of these is Samara a generous and talented etsy member from the far south of my state, Western Australia. As well as working full time and putting her heart and soul into her own creations, Samara regularly features a fellow Australian creator in her blog segment Dusty Divas. Its my humble honour to be featured this week, and I would love for you to come and read about the evolution of my business Starry Girl by Starzyia, and fully explore the blog for all the other exciting posts and please, check out this beautiful, talented lady's creations....

http://maddabling.blogspot.com/2010/12/friday-friends-dusty-divas-starry-girl.html

New Satin Cord Necklaces

I've had a lovely time today photographing these necklaces made a little while ago, they have now been added to my etsy store.

The top image shows a vintage peacock cabochon threaded on an electric blue satin cord, adjustable up to 18 inches. I have two of these, just one listed at the moment.

This sweet painted shell button showing a bird on a branch is another favourite of mine, I have two necklaces like this, one in my etsy store, one in my madeit store www.madeit.com.au/Starzyia

Here you can see a button, which I have pimped out by gluing the rose pendant on top and adding a bail for threading onto the light purple satin cord. Again, I have two like this, one is currently in my etsy store.

All of these would make excellent gifts, but my shipping deadline for overseas delivery has passed, for Australian residents I can take orders up until December 14th.

My etsy address is www.starzyia.etsy.com

Introducing My Handmade Postage Stamp Jewelry

I had to launch with a Christmas stamp, this one is from the UK, I love the tranquil winter setting... the snow... the forest... the second deer in the background. Deer are a traditional symbol of prosperity.

All jewelry featured here today are glazed into brass jewelry settings with a glass cover and a ball and chain necklace of up to 24 inches. I cut mine to at least 20 inches.

I love the teal, beige, and charcoal artwork on this vintage Mocambique stamp (Mozambique) a part of the postmark is visible in the upper right hand section but does not obscure the image of the butterfly.

A little brighter and cheerier is this stamp featuring roses.

This piece is not a stamp, its a miniature of a Mucha art piece and was a special request by my friend who has purchased it.

I'm looking forward to offering more stamp and altered art pieces (and practicing my photography... at the moment I find I get the shadow from the setting cup around the edges, also often the light reflections)

These pieces are now available in my new store section Altered Art Jewelry at www.starzyia.etsy.com

Hummingbird Earrings, Handmade Symbolic Jewelry

"At night I dream of the hummingbird; feel the beating of its wings; and if you only had one choice, my dear; would you fly or would you sing?" (Tom McRae)

I love the hummingbird so much that I'm really surprised to say this is my first creation featuring this beautiful, symbolic bird. If you have seen these before, they are the same pair, I only make one of each design, but they badly needed to be rephotographed!

The hummingbird is symbolic of joy and flirtation, and is a great choice of charm to recapture your youthful energy. I'd recommend this as a choice of charm or symbol for someone who needs healing, and wants to reconnect with their inner child. A great way to bring more of the joy of living to your daily outlook.

Green is also a very healing colour, and is youthful, I always refer to green as the 'colour of new ideas', combined with the hummingbird it may be more like the colour of enthusiasm for new experiences.

Green also resonates with self acceptance, I would use this for colour therapy where one needs to be more generous and gentle with self thoughts i.e. to combat harsh self judgment.

My store is filled with individually designed symbolic and healing creations http://www.starzyia.etsy.com/

Its Here... 20% OFF JEWELRY all November! Starry Girl by Starzyia

Its here! My Early Bird Christmas Sale.... save 20% off jewelry in both my etsy and madeit stores, for the entire month of November. As I wish to encourage early christmas shopping when I am less busy and the post office lines are shorter, no offer I make in December will beat this.

Most of this is newly listed stock and you can grab it at sale price! Please note that I only create one of each design.

Etsy shoppers: the listing prices have been cut by 20% on all stock marked ON SALE so you only need to pay the discounted price and shipping, no code word needed, and no waiting for me to send a discount refund. All items in my jewelry and earrings store sections are included in this sale.

Madeit shoppers: the prices have not been pre reduced, you will save 20% on the listing price of ALL items in store. Either pay with paypal and I will send your discount amount back as a paypal refund ASAP, or if you are an Australian resident and select to pay by cheque or money order I will send you a message asking you to pay the discounted price and shipping NOT the full price! Once again no code word needed!

I am happy to combine shipping if you order from both stores, the shipping will be recalculated and the excess refunded or discounted.

The far top image shows Diva Butterfly Earrings in my etsy store, these have a great vintage feel, but are a fresh handmade creation with plenty of sparkling bling.

The next image shows All Things Nice, lavender and violet beaded earrings, in the Madeit store www.madeit.com.au/Starzyia

Sweet Love Birds Roosting, the pink, Madeit store variation (I have a red pair in etsy)

my etsy store is http://www.starzyia.etsy.com/

you can keep track of my additions and notifications by following me on twitter, see button on right of page.

Happy shopping to you! I am thrilled to have bought my father's christmas gift this week, he is by far my hardest to buy for, a big relief to have found something great for him SSHHHH I can't say what it is!

Who is your most difficult person to shop for?